Flora Mediterranea 9 - 1999 57

Z. Houmani, L. Cosson & M. Houmani

Daturaferox L. and D. quercifolia Kunth (Solanaceae) in Algeria

Introduction

Abstract

Haumani, Z., Cassan, L. & Haumani, M.: Datura ferox L. and D. quercijiJ/ia Kunth (So[anaceae) in Algeria. - Fl. McdiI. 9: 57-60. 1999. - ISSN 1120-4052.

Twa weedy Datura species found in So/anum tl/bertisl/m field s in Algeria were identified as new for the Algerian flora. Bath produce tropanic alkaloids and are particularly rich in scopolamin.

During our prospecting of various regions of Algeria for alkaloid producing plants, two weedy Datura species were found that have been identified as D. ferox L. and D. quercifolia Kunth. The present paper draws attention to these two taxa, productive of tropanic alkaloids which are know for their phannaceutical properties (Goodwin & Mercer 1983). They add to the many plants with tropanic alkaloids that are known as members of the wild flora of Algeria (Houmani & Cosson 1996).

Material and methods

Both species occur as weeds in Solanum tuberosum L. fields in the locality of Rouina, department of Chlef (formerly El Asnam), c. 180 km in the W of Algiers. 15 adult plants, each with at least 3 ripe fruits, were harvested on 15 July 1991. A soil sample was taken for analysis at the foot of each plant.

Species identification was effected with the aid of works on Datura by Safford (1922) and Satina & A very (1959), with assistance from Abdelkader Belouad, responsible for the herbarium of the National Agronomie Institute in Algiers, where vouchers have been deposited.

Aerial parts and roots of IO plants, each separately, were weighed, dried in the shade, and crushed into powder. Extraction methods and dosage were described by Houmani & al. (1994). 20 extractions were peliormed in total, for the aerial parts and IO others for the roots of the different plants. The results represent the average of 3 dosages per extract.

58 Houmani & al. : Daturaferox L. and D. quercifolia Kunth ...

Results and discussion

Edaphic characteristics. - The analyses revealed a muddy soil containing 8.8 % CaC03, 6.9 % organic matter, and 0.14 % nitrogen, at a Ph of 8.1.

Taxonomy. - Datura ferox and D . quercifolia do not figure in any work on the Algerian flora (Quézel & Santa 1963, Ozenda 1977). Thei'r salient morphogical features are given in Table l.

Datura ferox originates from S China and is now widely distributed in the warm regions of the globe. In the Mediterranean region it is naturalised in France, Spain, Italy, Sicily (Tutin & al. 1972), and Pa1estine (Heller & Heyn 1987), but was not so far reported from N Africa. Bhatt & Saratbabu (1988) repòrt the presence of this species in the deserts and semi-arid zones of Rajasthan in India.

Datura quercifolia originates from a restricted area in Mexico and the SW United States (Satina & A very 1959). It was not so far reported as naturalised from the Mediterranean area.

In Algeria, both species were presumably introduced with seeds imported for market cultures.

Table 1. Some distinctive morphological characteristics of Datura ferox and D. quercifo/ia.

Organ D. ferox D. quercifolia

Stem green, glabrous, erect, 50 to purple, slightly downy, erect, 60 to 150 cm tali, 1 to 1.5 cm in 120 cm tali, 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter

diameter

Leaves alternate, glabrous, green, alternate, slightly downy, green, deeply angled, grossly sinuate pinnately lobed as in some oaks

Inflorescence each fork of the cimosely as in D. ferox branched stem bears one flower

Calyx slightly less than half as long as half as long as the corolla the corolla

Corolla white, longitudinally pleated, 4 to pale lavender, 4 to 8 cm long, 5-toothed 6 cm long, 5-toothed and with 5 indentations

Anthers white purple

Capsule ovoid, 5-8 x 4-5 cm, very prickly ovoid, 6-7 x 4-6 cm very prickly with with unequal spines with thick unequal spines less stout than in

conical bases, slightly acuminate D. ferox, regularly into 4 valved when ripe, regularly 4 valved when ripe

Seeds black black

Alkaloid content (Fig. I) - The aerial parts of Datura ferox are richer in major alkaloids (scopolamin + hyoscyamin) than those of D. quercifolia. In either species, the aerial parts are richer in major alkaloids than the roots.

The ratio scopolamin : hyoascyamin is 18.3 in Datura ferox and 12.4 in D. quercifolia.

Flora Mediterranea 9 - 1999 59

0,12

0,1

~ 0,08 ~

D. quercifolia l!! o c: CII 0,06 -" ·0 iii ..li: 0,04 CC

0,02

Aerial parts Roots Aerial parts Roots

Organs

111s+H as mH

S = scopolamin; H = hyoscyamin

Fig. I . Alkaloid content (% of dry matter) of Datura ferox and D. quercifolia.

Conclusion

Datura ferox and D. quercifolia are naturalised in Algeria. They grow as weeds on

muddy and a slightly basic soil. They are rich in scopolamin. D . ferox in particular is an

important potential scopolamin source.

References

Bhatt, A. B. & Saratbabu, G. V. 1988: Notes on the distribution of two exotics in western India. -Acta Bot. Indica 16: 117-118.

Goodwin, T. W. & Mercer, E. I. 1983: Introduction to plant biochemistry, ed. 2. - Oxford. Heller, D. & Heyn, C. C. 1987: Conspectus florae orientalis. An annotated catalogue of the flora of

the Middle East, 4. - Jerusalem. Houmani, Z. & Cosson, L.: 1996: Quelques espèces algériennes à alcaloi"des tropaniques. -

In: Erga (ed.), Ethnopharmacology 3. Communications au 3ème European Symposium of Ethnophmmacology,29 May - 2 June, Italy . - Genova (in press). , -, Corbineau, F. & Come, D. 1994: Etude de la teneur en hyoscyamine et en scopolamine

60 Houmani & al.: Daturaferox L. and D. qllercifòlia Kunth ...

d ' une population sauvage de Dalura slramonium L. en Algérie. - Acta Bot. Gallica 141: 61-66.

Ozenda, P. 1977: Flore du Sallara, ed. 2. - Paris. Quézel , P. & Santa, C. 1963: Nouvelle flore de l'Algérie et des régions désertiques méridionales , 2.

- Paris. Safford, W. E. 1922: Daturas of tlle old and new world: an account of tlleir narcotic properties and

tlleir use in oracular and initiatory ceremonies. - Rep. (Annual) Board Regents Smithsonian Inst. 1922: 537-567.

Satina, S. & Avery, A. G. 1959: A review of the taxonomic history of Dalura. Tile genus Datura. Blakeslee. - Chron . Bot. 20.

Tutin , T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A. , Moore, D. M. , Valenti ne, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A. (ed.) 1972: Flora Europaea, 3. - Cambridge.

Addresses of the authors: Zahia Houmani, Laboratory of medicinal and aromatic plants, Agronomie Institute, Blida University, BP. 270 Douiret, DZ-09100 Blida, Algeria. Louis Cosson , Laboratory of Botany and Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5 J. B. Clément, F-92296 Chatenay-Malabry Cedex , France. Mohamed Houmani , Laboratory of analysis , Agronomie Institute, Blida University, BP 270 Douiret, DZ-091 00 Blida, Algeria.